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| Notes for John (Spouse 2) | ||||||||||
| r161 THE WILL AND INVENTORY OF JOHN BASS AND THE PETITION AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF THE WILL. Tracribed From the Original Documents, BY GEORGE ERNEST BOWMAN. JOHN BASS made his will 25 June, 1716, and died at Braintree, Mass., 12 September, 1716, having survived his wife Ruth 2 Alden (John 1) nearly forty-two years. His will and inventory are recorded in the Suffolk County Probate Records at Boston,* and the original documents from which our copies were made, are still in the files.- With the will and inventory is preserved a petition from the testator's son, John Bass, and his son-in-law, Ephraim Thayer, praying that the will be not allowed on account of the undue influence of another son, John Bass, Jr., and his family. This petition, signed by Joseph Bass only, was presented 22 October, 1716. Since the will was allowed on that date and the petition was not entered on the probate records and no record of any appeal to a higher court can be found, it is evident that the dissatisfied heirs decided to drop the matter. In the name of God, amen. The Twenty fifth Day of June Anno: Dom one thousand Seven Hundred & Sixteen, I, John Bass of Braintry, in the County of Suffolk, in New England, Wheel-wright, being of perfect mince and Memory, thanks be given unto God therefor; calling to mind the Mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for Men once to dye, Do make and ordaine this my Last will and Testa[ment] That is to Say, Principally, and first of all, I give and recomen[dl my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, hoping through the * Vol. XIX, PP. 202, 203, 270. - Docket 3785. The Will and Inventory of John Bass. 203 merits, Death & Passion of my Saviour JesustChrist to have full and free Pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins, and to Inherit Everlasting Everlasting life; and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named; nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same againe by the mighty Power of God. And now for the Settleing the Temporal Estate wherewith It hath pleased God to bless me far above my deserts, I do order, give, and dispose the Same in manner and forme foll[ow]ing: (That is to Say) First I Will that all those Debts & duties as I owe in Right or conscience to any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall be well and truly contented, and paid, or ordained to be paid in convenient time, after my Decease, by my Executor Hereafter named. Item, I Give and bequeath to my well beloved Son John Bass (whom I likewise constitute, make, and Ordaine my only & Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament) that Piece of Land called the CalftPasture being about an acre, to him, his Heirs and assigns forever: Further I Give to my Said Son John Bass all other, my PasturetLand, PloughtLand, Meadow, Salt & Fresh, Wood Land and other Estate whatsoever, not hereafter in this my Last Will particularly mentioned, and disposed of, to be Improved by him duri[ng] his Natural life, and after his Decease to his Son John Bass his Heirs and assigns forever, Excepting that the Said John Bass Junr Should Dye without Legal Isue, in which case my will is that it pass to the next Heir; also my Will is that the Said John Bass Junr. should Improve Some part of the above mentioned Lands during his Father's life, at his Father's pleasure. And Further my will is that whatsoever I have heretofore given to my Said Son John Bass, which hath been in his Improvement, Shall be aftr his Decease Decease, for his Son Samuel & which I do herby confirm to the Said Samuel Bass, his Heirs and Assigns forever, Only Reserving a Liberty to my Son John Bass aforesaid to Will any part of what I have thus given him & his Sons, Unto his Wife (in Case she outlives him) during her Natural life, not Exceeding a Fourth part thereof. Item I Give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Bass all my Lands at Stand-brook, in SalterstFarme being part of the foure Score Acres (so called) be it more or less: also half my Lands at RyetIsland, (the whole being Ten Acres) his part to be on the Northern Side thereof: also a Strap of Land in the House Lot, in Salters Farme near Two Acres, lying between what he bought of his brother Joseph, and Coll: Quincey's Land, on the East Side of the Cart-way. Also part of the PlaintLot 204 The Will and Inventory of John Bass. (so called) so far as he hath fenced, being the Eastermost End of the Said Lott, all which I give to him his Heirs and Assigns forever. As to my Son Joseph Bass, I have already given him, his full part or portion out of my Estate, to which I here add five Shillings, to be paid by my Executor &c I[te]m I give and bequeath to my Two Daughters, Mary Copeland, and Sarah Thayer, each of tem, an acre (be it more or less) of Salt Meadow (which is already in their Improvement) during their Natural life, and after their Decease to my Son John Bass if Surviving, (otherwise to his Son John) He, (and in case of his Decease, his Son John) paying five Pounds money, to the Children of each of my Said Daughters, that is in all Ten Pounds, to be distributed among them equally, Immediately after their Mother's Decease or as they come of age; also I give to my Daughters aforesaid, Each of 'em, Ten Pounds, to be paid by my Executor, in convenient time after my Decease, also all my House-hold moveables to be equally divided between them. Item I Give to all my GrandtDaughters, that are the Children of my Two Deceased Daughters, viz Ruth, and Hannah, Ten Shillings, A-piece, to be paid to Each of them by my Executor; in convenient Time after my Decease, to Such as are of age, and the Rest as they come to age. Item I Give to my Grandson John Bass, that Spott of Ground on which he hath Erected his DwellingtHouse: And further, one half of my Barn, and Yard thereto belonging; and the other half of the Barn & yard aforesd, I Give to his Brother Samuel Bass; these to be enjoyed by them, their Heirs & Assigns forever. and And I do hereby utterly disallow, Revoake and disannul all, and every other former Testaments, Wills, and Legacies, Bequests and Executm by me in any ways before this Time named Willed & bequeathed, Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament, In Wittness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal, the Day & year above written Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and Declared John Bass (Seal) by the Said John Bass, as his last Will and Testament In the Presence of us the Subscribers, Susanna Webb Jonathan Webb Benjamin Webb The Will and Inventory of John Bass. 205 Suffolk Ss By the Honble Samuel Sewall Esqr Judge of Probate &c The aforegoing will being presented for probate by John Bass the Executor therein named. Susanna Webb Jonathan Webb and Benjamin Webb personally appearing made Oath that they Saw John Bass the Subscriber to the withir Instrument Signe Seal and heard him publish and Declare the Same to be his last Will and Testament and that when he so did he was of sound disposeing mind and Memory According to their best discerning and that they Set to their names as wittnesses of the Execution thereof in the Said Testators presence Boston Octobr: 22 d 1716 Samuel Sewa21 Braintry November 21 : 1716 an Inventorey of the Esteate of John Bass sener Late of Braintry decst . s d to a Silver Cupp 3 or 00 to a hetchell wheele adds two chees fasts 00 06 06 two brass kitties & skilett 01 05 00 one Iron pott spits tramill tongues & fire shovell & other small Iron things 00 05 00 to Severall Smale thing as hammer ax & saw 00 06 00 old Putter two platers two bassons & old puter pott 00 06 00 Earthen ware one platter two muggs 00 00 z 26 a long table form Cubberd box & needing trough: chore 01 10 00 for old Lumber cheirs tubbs & pails Little table 01 04 00 for 3 old barrels .4. wooden dishes & .9. trenchers 00 26 00 three old cheests 00 26 00 a grate bible 00 26 00 a feather bead & bolster three coverleads beadstead & cord 27 05 00 his wearing cloaths 24 00 00 three shirts 3 napkins and a pilibear 01 06 00 two old baggs 02 03 02 an old Sword 00 00 s 00 two Cows 28 00 00 To Cash in the house 00 10 10 The land in the Pasture aboute 10 acres & half in the stoney field 55 00 00 24 acres of land in the Capt plaine 35 00 00 one Lott in the . 600 . acres 23 00 00 10 acres of upland in the farm at Ry Island 50 00 00 4 acres of land in the farm on the Island 10 00 00 2 acres & half of upland In the house lott 27 10 00 Seven acres of Salt marsh 70 00 00 206 The Will and Inventory of John Bass. one Share in the pine swamp 02 00 00 Solomon vezey John .Cleverly Peter Adams A Bill dated Jany 24 . 1696 . obliging Joseph Bass to } .3 0 0 pay Three (ounds 5 Febr. 11 th. 1716. John Bass the executor made oath that the foregoing is a true & perfect Inventory of the estate of his Father John Bass lately deceased and that if more hereafter apear he will cause it to be added Coram Samuel Sewall J. probate. PETITION OF THE HEIRS. Suffolk Ss: To the Honourable Samuel Sewall Esqr Judge of probate Sara: Joseph Bass and Ephraim Thayer and other the Children of John Bass late of Braintry deced Humbly pray that the Will of their said late ffather may not be proved. For the following reasons I First because he was under great insanity of mind at makeing the Sd Will and Benjamin Webb one of the Witnesses to ye sd Will has declared thats Testator acted Childish when he Executed the same. 22Y For that he was perswaded by his Son John Bass & wife to cutt off his Son Joseph by making this new will and being Stricken in years was much awed by his grandson John Bass. 3 For that the Testator in his life time Setled some part of his Estate by Deed upon his Son John And by his present will has given it to his Grandson Samuel Bass which Evidences that he was non Compos Mentis at the time of making ye said Will 4ly For that he has given his Wife but one forth part of his Estate when the Law of this province Sets forth one third to the widow. 5 For that there is a Legacy in the Said Will uncertain which is given to his Grandson John Basse's Son John when at the same time there is no Such person in being nor any probability that there will be at present 6 For that the Testator has given Legacys to the Daughters of his Children Ruth Webb and Hannah Adams both deced and has totally Excluded their Sons. Boston Octor 22 d 1716 Joseph Basse. | ||||||||||
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| Family Memorial Genealogy of 14 Families of the Early Settlers of New England, Elisha Thayer, 1835. Page 55 - "John Bass was probably born in Roxbury about the year 1632. On the 12 month, 3, 1657, John Bass and Ruth Aulden were married by John Aulden of Duxbury. (Records of Braintree) Their children were: John b. 9-26-1658, Samuel b. 1-25-1660, Ruth b. 11-28-1662, Joseph b. 10-5-1665, Hannah b. 4-22-1667, Mary b. 12-11-1669 and Sarah 1-29-1672. Ruth, wife of John Bass died 8-12-1674. His second wife was Hannah Sturtephant, of Plymouth, married 7-12-1675. John Bass died 9-12-1716, in the 84th year of his age. Ann Bass, the wife of John Bass, was dismissed from the church of Plymouth, and admitted to the church of Braintree, 8-30-1676. (Church records) Ann and Hannah were synonymous names at that age." There is no other mention of Hannah or any other wives. | ||||||||||
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